Flat Warts

Flat warts are
more prevalent amongst teenagers
and children which is why they
are also known as juvenile
warts. They are
small, about
the size of a
pinhead, and as their name
suggests flat warts have flat
tops. As many as a hundred may
be clustered in one location.
They are a similar color to the
skin, being pink, light brown or
yellow, and are much smoother to
the touch than other types of
warts. Common locations for
flat warts are the face and the
forehead, but these little lumps
can also grow on the neck, arms,
and hands.

Causes

Warts are
caused by viruses. They’re
called human papilloma virus
(HPV) and more than 100 strains
have been identified. The human papillomavirus
(HPV) strains 3, 10, 28, and 49
are the main causes of flat
warts. Like many
viral particles their favorite
locations must be warm and moist
which is why they home in on
skin and mucosal surfaces. When
they find a suitable place they
invade the epidermis to grow,
develop, and proliferate. HPV
is highly contagious and is
transmitted via person-
to-person contact or sometimes
by touching infected objects.

Symptoms

Sometimes
it can take up to a year for
flat warts to grow to a visible
size, so you might not be aware
you have them until sometime
after the original infection.
Flat warts are flesh colored or
white and slightly raised above
the skin. These warts are
flat topped and smooth.
Scratches are common places you
will find an infection of flat
warts. A flat wart will
develop on the hands, face, and
areas that are shaved frequently
such as women's legs and men's
faces. Flat warts usually
occur in multiples. Very
rarely will you find a flat wart
all alone. Most warts are not painful,
though they can hurt if they are
located in an area that is
frequently bumped or under
pressure. More importantly,
they are not dangerous. Flat
warts are benign growths. The
biggest problem that most people
have with warts is that they are
embarrassed by their appearance.

Treatment

Since they occur in multiples
and in areas prone to re-infection, flat warts can be
rather difficult to treat. Treatment
is not always necessary as the
warts will go away after a few
months; a result of the body’s
immune system fighting back.
When treatment is needed the
most common options are
non-prescription drugs which
cause the skin to be saturated
with water. Eventually the skin
peels away taking the virus
particles with it. Moist
patches are another option, and
these are placed over the
affected area for 48 hours at a
time. Success depends on the
size of the wart and the depth
of its growth. Flat wart
remedies may take up to three
months to work. If the problem
persists and the warts are
painful a doctor must be
consulted. They will have
access to stronger chemicals
such as
salicylic acid, glycolic or retinoin
to remove the top layers warts.
A doctor may even use cryotherapy,
where the tissue is frozen with
liquid nitrogen. Other options
include electro-surgery or pulsed
laser beams which burn and kill
the warts. Then, they simply
drop off.

A preliminary
study has revealed that
treatment with a poisonous
chemical compound called
Cantharadin may be beneficial to
people with stubborn flat warts
on their face. All patients
within the study were completely
cured within 16 weeks and there
were only mild adverse skin
reactions to the topical
solution. (Pelinxs S, Durmazlar
K, Atacan D, Eskioglu F.
Cantharidin treatment for
recalcitrant facial flat warts:
A preliminary study. Journal of
Derm Treat. 2009; 20 (2):
114-119).

Even when
treatment is successful warts
can make an unwelcome comeback.
This is because the HPV virus
may still be lurking in the
body.